Steep Creeking - Italy
Master your boof Steep Creeking in Piemonte. In Valsesia we offer the best spring low volume Steep Creeking trip in Europe.
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Experience the Ultimate Fusion of Adventure and Indulgence in the Sesia Valley, Italy! Imagine paddling through crystal-clear meltwater cascading over smooth granite slides and bedrock rapids—steep and technical yet surprisingly forgiving. By day, you’ll navigate this perfect steep creeking playground, and by night, you’ll savor fine wine and gourmet food with fellow enthusiasts.
There’s no better place to refine your kayaking skills than where world-class whitewater meets the rich culture of Piemonte. For a brief, magical window each spring, paddlers from around the globe converge on northern Italy to enjoy an unparalleled combination of adventure, gastronomy, and breathtaking scenery. Set against a backdrop of ancient villages, charming cafés, and soaring snow-capped peaks, Val Sesia stands unrivaled as a destination for both the steep creeking connoisseur and the lover of fine cuisine and wine.
Prepare to be awed by pool drops, bedrock falls, and smooth slides that will leave you speechless. Under the guidance of top-level instructors, you’ll acquire the tactics and techniques needed to tackle these waterways safely and in style.
This isn’t just a kayaking trip—it’s an immersive journey where every moment is designed to captivate your senses. Join us in Val Sesia and discover why there’s truly no better place on the planet for an unforgettable blend of world-class paddling, cultural richness, and culinary delights. Elevate your skills, indulge your passions, and create memories that will last a lifetime!
Day 1: Arrival day. Settle into your accommodation and take in the village of Campertogno.
Day 2: Hit the water! After a quick gear review and boat outfitting session, we’ll go for a chilled out paddle on the Sesia. It’ll give us the chance to look at how you’re paddling and find out what you want to work on
Day 3: Today’s a technical skill review and the chance to set some goals for the rest of the week. We’ll head to a more challenging river section and introduce you to some of the key concepts of dynamic river paddling such as angulation, pro-active balance and driving your boat.
Day 4: Today we’ll look at your river awareness. We’ll focus on group dynamics and leadership principles on one of the classics.
Day 5: Boof! Our first real day on the bedrock steeps will give you a real chance to work on your essential techniques and the team’s group dynamics.
Day 6: More of the steeps: another classic pool-drop river and chance to get some photos.
Day 7: Piemonte classic. We’ll head for an all day trip with steep drops, scenic surroundings and world class whitewater. The ideal finish to a perfect week.
Day 8: Departure day: time for a debrief and the end of the course.
Included:
- Guiding and Instruction†
- River shuttles
† Our Coaching/Guiding solution is simply our first-rate excellent Coaching & Guiding and assistance with river shuttles
You will also require:
Accommodation
Catering
Airport Shuttle*
Kayak Rental**
Visa fees
Flights
Bar bills
Travel & Boat insurance
Kayak Rental
Tips
Can I rental a kayak & paddle in destination?
- In all out destinations we have developed great partnerships with local kayak rental outlets
- We will help you secure a kayak of your choice
- If you do not wish to travel with your own paddle, we have a handful of high end Werner Paddles all with straight shafts and 45ºR feather. We also have some breakdown split paddles that can be made into 0º & 45ºL feather,. All available upon request.
- Note all equipment whether from a rental station or Gene17Kayaking is offered on a first come first served basis.
* An Airport Shuttle to and from Milan Malpensa Airport can be arranged with a local service, where the whole group can be collected. All arrivals to any of Milan’s other airports will need to make their way to Malpensa Airport for pick-up before 18:00 on the day of arrival. NB: Many people hire a car and make their way to Campertogno.
** Gene17 has access to a small yet excellent selection of kayaks for a range of different-sized paddlers, & these are available on a first-come, first-served basis ONLY
FAQs
Your most import questions answered
- In all out destinations we have developed great partnerships with local kayak rental outlets
- We will help you secure a kayak of your choice
- If you do not wish to travel with your own paddle, we have a handful of high end Werner Paddles all with straight shafts and 45ºR feather. We also have some breakdown split paddles that can be made into 0º & 45ºL feather,. All available upon request.
- Note all equipment whether from a rental station or Gene17Kayaking is offered on a first come first served basis.
- A good semi-drytop or drytop or drysuit
- Whitewater PFD, spray deck and good helmet
- Solid footwear for bank support – no sandals
- Rescue gear, including a throwbag, knife, sling, and karabiner
The trip will be led by an experienced Gene17kayaking appointed trip leader.
In selecting suitable leaders, we not only look to ensure that they have the relevant qualifications but we also ensure that they have an excellent track record of white water paddling from around the world.
Whilst qualifications and experience are essential requirements, we also make sure that our leaders have the right temperament to lead a trip group comprised of individuals who have a range of previous experience and expectations.
The leader is a vital contributor to the enjoyment and well-being of the trip members and he or she will be there to deal with any unexpected problems. To that end, we aim to provide a leader who will make the trip both successful and enjoyable throughout.
Our leaders hold current wilderness first aid certificates and have experience of dealing with remote river related medical conditions.
We will take a maximum of 6 paddlers on each trip, although the number may well be less than this. With every 3 paddlers we have on the trip, we’ll have a highly experienced Gene17kayaking Teacher/Guide.
- We’ll help you figure out how to tackle complex rapids and we’ll give you some serious boofin’ practice
- We’ll work on reading water dynamically, with a focus on driving your boat through turns, arcs and drops
- We’ll look at understanding whitewater features and learning to use the water's features to your advantage
- We’ll help you develop tactics to take on steeper whitewater in safety
- WW safety and rescue skills workshop
- We’ll help you find where you are with your paddling and we’ll give you a progression plan to work to
Day 1 Arrival day. Settle into your accommodation and take in the village of Campertogno.
Day 2 Hit the water! After a quick gear review and boat outfitting session, we’ll go for a chilled out paddle on the Sesia. It’ll give us the chance to look at how you’re paddling and find out what you want to work on
Day 3 Today’s a technical skill review and the chance to set some goals for the rest of the week. We’ll head to a more challenging river section and introduce you to some of the key concepts of dynamic river paddling such as angulation, pro-active balance and driving your boat.
Day 4 Today we’ll look at your river awareness. We’ll focus on group dynamics and leadership principles on one of the classics.
Day 5 Boof! Our first real day on the bedrock steeps will give you a real chance to work on your essential techniques and the team’s group dynamics.
Day 6 More of the steeps: another classic pool-drop river and chance to get some photos.
Day 7 Piemonte classic. We’ll head for an all day trip with steep drops, scenic surroundings and world class whitewater. The ideal finish to a perfect week.
Day 8 Departure day: time for a debrief and the end of the course.